Sztretye, Mónika, Dienes, Beatrix, Gönczi, Mónika et al. · Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity · 2019 · DOI
This review examines astaxanthin, a powerful natural antioxidant found in marine organisms, and how it might help protect cells from damage caused by oxidative stress—an imbalance that occurs in ME/CFS and many other diseases. The authors explain how astaxanthin may work by targeting and protecting mitochondria, the energy-producing structures in our cells. They suggest this compound could potentially help prevent or slow disease progression and aging-related health problems.
Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are widely recognized contributors to ME/CFS pathophysiology. This review identifies astaxanthin as a potentially promising mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant and may support the rationale for future clinical trials in ME/CFS populations.
This is a narrative review, not original research; it does not provide direct clinical evidence that astaxanthin improves ME/CFS outcomes. The review does not prove efficacy, safety, or optimal dosing in ME/CFS patients specifically, and correlation between antioxidant activity and clinical benefit has not been established. No human ME/CFS trial data is presented.
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Primary citation
Sztretye, Mónika, Dienes, Beatrix, Gönczi, Mónika, Czirják, Tamás, Csernoch, László, Dux, László, et al. (2019). Astaxanthin: A Potential Mitochondrial-Targeted Antioxidant Treatment in Diseases and with Aging.. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3849692
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-sztretye-2019-astaxanthin-potential,
author = {Sztretye, Mónika and Dienes, Beatrix and Gönczi, Mónika and Czirják, Tamás and Csernoch, László and Dux, László and Szentesi, Péter and Keller-Pintér, Anikó},
title = {Astaxanthin: A Potential Mitochondrial-Targeted Antioxidant Treatment in Diseases and with Aging.},
journal = {Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1155/2019/3849692},
note = {PubMed: 31814873},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/sztretye-2019-astaxanthin-potential},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-26. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/sztretye-2019-astaxanthin-potential
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